Thimble



(No MerleL' U. A. KNAUSS. THIMBLE.

No. 562,730. Patented June 23, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

URIAl-I A. KNAUSS, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO- THIRDS TO WILLIAM H. JACOBS AND JOHN B. MEIXELL, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

THIMBLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,730, dated June 23, 1896. Application filed March 5, 1896. Serial No. 581,963. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, URIAI-I A. KNAUSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thimbles, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in thimbles, and it has for its objects, among others, to provide a thimble with means for aiding in the passage of a needle through the material being operated upon.

It is a well-known fact among seamsters that often, especially in the sewing of heavy material, it is a diliiicult matter to pass the needle through the material, and at times it sticks, so that several pulls or attempts are required before the needle is pulled through the goods, often resulting even in the breaking of the needle.

It is the primary object of my invent-ion to provide a thimble with a simple attachment so located as not to interfere with the ordinary operation of sewing, but in position to be employed for grasping the needle, and then by pressure of the thumb against the same so firmly clasp the needle that it can be easily pulled through the goods. The attachment adds but trifling to the weight or cost of the thimble. It is durable and may be caused to grasp the needle with more or less pressure as occasion may require.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view-showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the thimble; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the thimble, section being taken centrally through the attachment.

- Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the de tails of the drawings by letter, A designates the thimble, which may be of any desired material, size, and form, and adapted for use in the ordinary manner.

My improvement comprises the plate B, of somewhat resilient material, which may be formed integral with the thimble or, preferably, of a separate piece secured to the outer wall thereof by solder, rivet, or other suitable means. It comprises the portion 1), which lies against and conforms to the curvature of the outer wall of the thimble, to which it is secured, and at the outer edge of the thimble bent, as at b, and thence extended, as at 5 and broadened, preferably, as seen in Fig. 2, to form a thumb-piece, the free end of which is bent slightly inward toward the wall of the thimble. The outer face of the portion b may or may not be roughened or serrated, as seen at b in Fig. 3. In practice, this thimble is worn upon the finger and used in the ordinary manner. hen it is desired to pull the needle through the material, the needle is grasped between the portion 11 and the portion I) of the attachment, and then by pressure upon the thumb-piece b by the thumb, as indicated in Fig. 1, the needle is firmly and securely clasped and held, and may be readily pulled through the material, after which the pressure of the thumb on the thumb-piece is released and the needle may be readily removed from the clamp or clasp, to be again clasped by the same when it is again required to pull it through the material.

It-is deemed important that the needle have a firm bearing against the part b or against a solid portion of the thimble, so that all danger of breaking the needle by pressure thereagainst is obviated.

In one form of the invention the portion 11 may be hinged by the hinge 0, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,) so that the thumb piece maybe moved down in line with the wall of the thimble, if desired, so as to throw it out of the way, and the portion 1) may be omitted, the attachment being solid to the outer wall of the thinible at the end, and the needle held between the inner face of the thumb-piece and the outer solid wall of the thimble. Such changes I should consider within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters ing clamp secured to the outer wall thereof and comprising a resilient thumb-piece movable to and from the said outer wall, and a portion lying against the outer wall of the thimble, between which and the thumb-piece the needle is designed to be grasped and held, said portion having its outer face roughened; substantially as described.

4. Athimble provided with a needle-grasping clasp secured to the outer wall thereof and comprising a resilient thumb-piece and a portion between which and the thumb-piece the needle is designed to be held, said thumbpiece being hinged; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

URIAH A. KNAUSS.

Vitnesses:

ABSALOM KREsGE, SToKEs HEFT. 

